Tuesday, July 08, 2014

Calabrian Procession of the Virgin Passes by Mafioso's House ...

And they say it was in defiance of Pope Francis' condemnation of the 'Ndrangheta.

I'm confused. The procession passed by the home of a mobster under house arrest. On his visit to the region last month, Pope Francis said mafiose were excommunicated. They say the procession detoured to honor the 82 year old mafia boss, but maybe it was more a way of reaching out to him - maybe the Madonna wanted to 'pass by' with her healing graces? Isn't the man 'imprisoned' albeit house arrest? The Pope just visited prisoners, didn't he? Those in the procession were not distributing Holy Communion. Isn't this what the Pope would do himself? Detour from the scheduled route to visit the sinner?

Here's the deal:

The July 2 procession included clergy, the mayor, parents pushing baby strollers and dozens of local men carrying on their shoulders an ornate Madonna statue.

Carabinieri officer Andrea Marino said he and his fellow officer walked away from the procession after the detour and headed to the church to complain about what happened.

One of Calabria's anti-Mafia prosecutors, Nicola Gratteri, told The Associated Press that the detour to the mobster's house appeared to be a "challenge to the diktat" of Francis.

'Ndrangheta, a global cocaine trafficker, is one of the world's most powerful crime syndicates. Religious rituals hold an important place in the mobsters' mentality.

Oppido Mamertino's bishop, Monsignor Francesco Milito, said he would take undescribed "measures" against those exploiting the church procession to pay homage to the 82-year-old local boss. The mobster, because of his age, was allowed to serve out his life sentence at home for murder. - Source

I don't get it - how is that defying the Pope? Especially when other mafiose in prison refuse to go to Mass any longer because the Pope said they were excommunicated: "reasoning if they were excommunicated it made no sense for them to attend anymore."
The man, Peppe Mazzagatti is 82 - he's elderly and under house arrest, Don't forget the Holy Father always reminds us to care for the elderly.Pope Francis: “let us also think of those other exiles – I would call them ‘the hidden exiles’ who may be marginalized within their own families – the elderly for example who sometimes are treated like burdens”.

Paraphrasing a comment I received yesterday: The big question is, how do we reach them? How do we bring them back to the Church? Do we do it by preaching at them, (excommunicating them) or do we do it by extending love and mercy, winning their trust, having a procession by their house, and then talking about how they have to change?

4 comments:

Hum...much of what you say makes sense Terry but with regards to the issue of "excommunications" I thought an official Papal Bull has to be issued? I am no expert on canon law but I have not heard anything official from the Holy See. I mean we all run the risk of "excommunicating" ourselves, yes? I mean like getting involved in supporting abortion, working in an abortion center and acting "like its just a job" while going to Mass on Sundays and participating in Holy Communion.

Anyway, we do not know if the old man repented and might be spending his final days close to the Lord Jesus. If he has repented and is praying, what an awesome witness. Let's hope that's the case and Mary just wanted to remind him not to forsake her Son if he wants to get into heaven to see her and St. Joseph and most important the Lord of Life.

I understood your intention about Papa Francis always being misread/misunderstood. I believe as soon as he stepped out, after his election, onto the balcony, all bets were off and the misunderstandings went haywire...whatever.

Now, back to the procession, I found this and it seems there is some truth to the matter.

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1402882.htm

The part that caught my eye was that of "hundreds of people accompanying the statue paused and bowed in front of the house of a presumed mafia boss."

Veritatis Splendor

About Me

... My idea of what I am is falsified by my preoccupation about what I do. And my illusions about myself are bred by contagion from the illusions of other men. We all seek to emulate one anothers imagined greatness....If I do not know who I am, it is because I think I am the sort of person everyone around me wants me to be. I have asked myself whether I wanted to become what everybody else seems to want to become... only to realize that I do not admire what everyone else seems to admire. I have only thus begun to live after all... But it is very late. - Adapted from a quote by Thomas Merton

Holy Face of Jesus

Show us your face and we shall be saved. "Each soul is the object of My special love. That is why I am so grateful to those who are resourceful and bringing back sinners to Me. Keep this in mind then. I gave My life for them in the most atrocious torture, for these poor beloved ones. A humble repentance, and they are already on My heart. So speak gently to them. Speak with tenderness. A brusque remark could drive them farther away." - He and I

Prayer to St. Michael

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the malice and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.